Anonymous wrote:I've volunteered with admissions in the past and am pretty close with our AD. Schools have a pretty good idea what their average yield is so they over-admit in an effort to try to not have to go to their WL. Yes, it can and does happen, but it's definitely the exception rather than the rule. If you call and ask, most ADs are willing to be honest about how likely their WL is to move for any given grade. Rather than hold your breath until the end of the month, talk to the ADs. They will usually let you know if it's hopeless so you can move on.

Well, I have heard of schools taking kids off WL in the summer. Say, when a family gets tranfered in July, or realizes taht they cannot affort the tuition on May 31st. Meanwhile, all of the accpets have settled else where.....time to get out the WL.

Anonymous wrote:I'm not poring over anything. I'm sorry it comes off as smug to you. While I'm glad that you know people who have gotten off the WL at top schools, for most people, that is rare. Any cursory reading on this site would cofnfirm that top schools go to the wait list very very rarely.

You making a huge assumption there: that every wait listed family came on DCUM and , onto this thread, and told their story. LOL. Look at SAM 2's admissions graphs, he got like what 160 responses, what's that 10-15% of total accpets ?

I've volunteered with admissions in the past and am pretty close with our AD. Schools have a pretty good idea what their average yield is so they over-admit in an effort to try to not have to go to their WL. Yes, it can and does happen, but it's definitely the exception rather than the rule. If you call and ask, most ADs are willing to be honest about how likely their WL is to move for any given grade. Rather than hold your breath until the end of the month, talk to the ADs. They will usually let you know if it's hopeless so you can move on.

No inside info here either, but my assumption is the opposite. The most competitive schools know that 1) families will apply to multiple schools and 2) attractive kids will be accepted at multiple schools. Since a kid cannot ATTEND multiple schools they will get some no's. Over the years they will have gotten a feel for how many no's and they will conservatively overaccept (not 40 kids for 20 slots, but certainly 25 kids for 20 slots). My only data point is that at my kid's school there are some grades that are bigger than average - I assume they got fewer no's than expected.

I imagine there will be some waitlist movement at almost every school. No school is going to have 100% yield. Yes, some schools will have admitted extra children to "manage to yield." But for the competitive schools with small classes (like Sidwell, GDS, or Maret), I'm guessing they will not offer admission to any more than their planned class size at first. For example, if GDS plans on a PK class of 24, it cannot send out 26 acceptances without running a risk that it will be oversubscribed when 25 of 26 say yes. So the school will just accept 24 in the first wave, and then pull others from the waitlist as needed. Beauvoir might offer more acceptances, because of the comparatively large number of children it enrolls (60+ in PK). With that many children, it's reasonable to offer admission to 65 and assume at least 5 will decline.

I've got no inside info, so consider ignoring me, but that's my commonsense view on how the schools probably approach it.

I'm not poring over anything. I'm sorry it comes off as smug to you. While I'm glad that you know people who have gotten off the WL at top schools, for most people, that is rare. Any cursory reading on this site would cofnfirm that top schools go to the wait list very very rarely.

Anonymous wrote:Again, sadly WL acceptances are a long shot. Schools manage to a yeild BEFORE the waitlist, so they often make numbers even aftre all the declines are in. People turning down spots does not mean that a school goes to the WL (at least for competitive years/schools). Schools go to the WL when they have more declines than projected.

I wishe everyone on the WL a well and happy outcome, but I think people should be realistic and not sit by the phone after contracts are due assuming someone is getting a call. It just doesn't work that way... sadly...

Are you the same person who keeps poring this over and over again? Why are you so bent on discouraging people. You come off as smug.

OP, here is the truth: I know kids who got off WL at Maret last year, who have gotten off WL at Beauvoir, and at Sidwell . I also know several families who will be turning down one school in a few days, and my circle is kinda small. These schools will be calling a couple folks. I hope it's your DC . Good luck, but yes as I said earlier on another thread, focus your energy on plan B, it will be a healthy diversion, and maybe a productive one.

Anonymous wrote:I am an eternal optimist but even I know the chances of getting off a W/L are very slim. But a part of me is still hopeful. March 21st seems forever away and then followed by spring break. I guess I should have been more proactive but I honestly believed that MY DC would be accepted somewhere! We got W/L everywhere!! Our back up is public! we were planning on moving but it seems now is as good a time as ever to switch over to MD. Just needed to vent!

PP, where did you apply? If you just applied to Beauvoir, Sidwell, WIS and GDS ( does GDS have Pre-K?), then maybe try schools like : Lowell, Sheridan, St Pats, Norwood, CHDS, and Aidan Montessori.

And you can add Maret for K and reapply to Beauvoir.

Again, sadly WL acceptances are a long shot. Schools manage to a yeild BEFORE the waitlist, so they often make numbers even aftre all the declines are in. People turning down spots does not mean that a school goes to the WL (at least for competitive years/schools). Schools go to the WL when they have more declines than projected.

I wishe everyone on the WL a well and happy outcome, but I think people should be realistic and not sit by the phone after contracts are due assuming someone is getting a call. It just doesn't work that way... sadly...

Another reminder for people who are holding on to multiple acceptances to PLEASE decline a spot if you know you don't want it. Some of us are making back up plans that might be an unnecessary waste of time, money and energy.

TIA!

Someone in another thread gave really good advice. Focus on what your actual options are, or exploring other alternatives besides the wait list. This will give you a sense of purpose and move your mind off waiting for a call.

Schools may not start calling for a wait list on March 21. They may not go to the wait list at all, esp. for the most competitive schools. While I hope you all get calls offering acceptance, start planning now for ehat you will do if you don't.

Also in the same boat. Sigh.

I hear you. In the same boat. Best of luck to you!

Have you called the ADs to reiterate your interest in the schools and ask if any WL movement is expected? If not, you should.

I am an eternal optimist but even I know the chances of getting off a W/L are very slim. But a part of me is still hopeful. March 21st seems forever away and then followed by spring break. I guess I should have been more proactive but I honestly believed that MY DC would be accepted somewhere! We got W/L everywhere!! Our back up is public! we were planning on moving but it seems now is as good a time as ever to switch over to MD. Just needed to vent!